When you talk to Alanna it doesn't take long for the image to form in your head. Fast forward 10 years; she is in her kitchen, head set on talking to a client overseas, feeding her children lunch and cookies are baking in the oven with the original recipe changed because "When I don't like something, I improve on it until it's great." While she will be multi-tasking in her usual unruffled manner her appearance will be just slightly dishevelled because she confidently resides in the world of reality not one of unrealistic perfection.

Alanna Morley graduated from Simon Fraser University with degrees in both English and the Humanities. She admits to possessing a thirst for knowledge that could still find her in the hallowed halls of higher learning instead though she is developing her business alanna inc, raising two beautiful little girls (& two border collies) with a husband who is himself made of the entrepreneurial spirit.

At thirty Morley possesses the characteristics of Generation X and Y. "I grew up in such a different world then previous generations, there were no wars to rally people, no giant movements to bring us together... people my age had music and television - pop culture- to aspire from, that's a little weird- we don't vocally question a lot of things right now, because we haven't had to. We don't know how to."

"Sometimes I just think, wow, who revolutionizes the world nowadays?
Steve Jobs from Apple?"

Self-inventive, individualistic, believes in personal accountability not excuses, hates small talk and doesn't tolerate fools well; Alanna's approach to her life is reminiscent of another professional woman whom she admires. "I have a lot if respect for Martha Stewart people give her a hard time because she isn't soft, sure her focus is in women's industry, but business especially when she started has been a very masculine industry and I think she needed to become that to compete, and we shouldn't hold that against her."

Alanna's creative side is reflected in her home; which serves as a changing canvas for her imaginativeness "I did a cherry blossom mural on the girl's bedroom wall, as well as three large butterflies that are made from dyed nylon to match."

Current projects include "For Halloween I have been making a dozen shrunken heads which will featured on my blog soon, also a life size body in a spider web cocoon, with two large spider nests to be hung outside for decoration...

"I have made some - I don't like the term scrapbook- it automatically implies soccer mom and cutesy- "nice photo collage books", one specifically for my grandmother as a tribute to my grandfather each page had a single photo, framed, with a paragraph written by a family member remembering my grandfather..."

It is this blend of talents and characteristics that serve her well as a graphic designer and social media marketer. Clients find that she clears away the rhetoric and the tendency towards over branding. After doing the research and brainstorming she provides them with ideas and visual concepts that are fresh and innovative while still retaining their professional individuality. This same approach is an asset as she weaves businesses through the social media intricacies; providing customers with a business presence that is interconnected from blog, to Twitter to FaceBook et al.

While the phrase 'old soul' is overly clichéd, Morley's worldview also carries with it the wisdom and traits of women from centuries gone by. She is as content in her vegetable garden as she is checking out the latest exhibit at the Vancouver Art Gallery. Her family is important to her but the relationships are never maudlin or hyper-protective. Alanna is aware that her girls' world is already different from the one she grew up in and she instinctively knows that it is important to maintain an ongoing and open dialogue with her children.

Nothing however sums up this eclectic woman more than when asked if suddenly given the chance to take a trip what would that entail "This second I would go for a latte in Paris... Sitting in a cafe with a book and pastry while the hubby played with the children in a public park across the street. I like having them with me, but independent moments when I can be an individual are special."

Women talk a lot about finding balance or having it all and perhaps it is in that very over analysis that we lose perspective. Alanna Morley doesn't make a big deal out of things she just gets on with the task at hand. There is no doubt that she will accomplish a lot in the years to come while always making sure that she finds the time for a latte and a good book in the process.

To find out more about Alanna's life visit her blog: www.Nuttermother.com

Read Alanna's recent article: Social Media Marketing 101

To contact Alanna Morley: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it